The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-17

when the two houses adjourn on Monday, Dec.
~, they stand adjourned until Thursday. jan D.
Mr.. Reed. of Maine, inquired the reason for
the submission of this resolution.
Mr. Hatch replied that it the usual reso-
luton brought in at the first session of Con-
gress The House had been in session since the
hrss Monday in December. It we'll known
that nothing had been accomplished. The
House was waiting for the Speaker to announce
the committees, and he (Mr Hatch) was salts
fed. from his personal knowledge, and from
what he had seen of the occupation of the Speak
ers time by mem bers in terested in committee
signments, that it was impossible that the com
mittees could be announced until afther the hol-
iday recess.
Mr.. Reed said that the peculiar condition of
the business affairs of the country rendered the
action which had been taken. or rather the non
action which had been suffered by the Demo-
cratic side of the House. q matter of legitimate
comment both here and before the country
lake 1t all in all, it was without precedent
Many changes in the rules of the House had
been suggested but had not been acted upon.
and yet it proposed that the House adjourn
for the holidays, and commence after the recess
whore it had been the custom to begin at the
opening of the session. If there were no mat
ters of public interest before the country, such
course might awaken only passing comment,
but to-day Congress was pressed upon
by serious public duty, which was
the reduction of the surplus which was coming
into the treasury in a manner calculated under
the management of the Treasury Department..
to be an embarrassment to the finances of the
country. All were agreed-at least on the Re-
publican sde-that this surplus should be re-
duced and the Republicans stood ready now to
make one reduction to which the other side was
agreed, and that it was IN reference to the to-
bacco tax. He hoped that an opportunity would
be given them by the powers that De. or were to
be, 70 vote thereon and show to the country
some proper opposition in this regard. If the
gentlemen tho other side found it somewhat
difficult to arrange themselve alongside the re-
cent message which had been sent them, that
the Republicans could we'll understand and
could give their assurance or most profound
sympathy. Laughter
The message to some Democrats sum-
mons from very great way off. and it required
that they should traverse very great distance
before they could get alongside of their poineer
brother at the end OF the avenue.
Mr.. Hatch said that he had hoped that he
could yield the floor to the gentleman from
Maine without that gentleman improving his
opportunity to make political herangue. If
the gentleman had not had opportunity,
time and again, during the Forty ninth Con-
gress, to vote for the consideration of tariff
bill. and had not always voted against it, there
might be sincerely in this talk to-day.
tApplausel After some further debate the
resolution was amended so to make the ad-
journment for the recess occur Thursday. Dec.
D. The resolution was then adopted.
After further routine business the
House adjourned until Monday.